Evergreen Brian shoots his age to fulfil an ambition

HANDICAP SNIP . . . Brian Smithies.

GOLF:

CROMPTON and Royton stalwart Brian Smithies has had his handicap cut — at the tender age of 76!

Brian shot his age in the High Barn club’s midweek medal and, with his handicap of 11 factored in, returned a net 65 to win the second division prize. A the sting in the tail was the club’s decision to cut his handicap by one shot to 10.

Brian, a Crompton member for 46 years, has played off a lifetime low of five.

He said: “It’s been an ambition of mine for a while to shoot my age. Ever since I got to 74 or 75 I’ve thought it was getting to the stage where it was possible.

“Obviously the weather was helpful, but I hit the ball well and holed one or two putts. It’s nice to have my handicap going down at my age!”